The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Tuesday arrested six protesters on various charges before the second day of demonstrations against 2020 presidential election results.
Out of the six arrests, one was made by US Park Police for an unannounced reason. The charges against those arrested include a number of gun-related offenses, possession of a prohibited weapon, assault on a police officer, illegal possession of fireworks, and possession of a taser.
Thousands of people gathered to join the “Save America March” rally in support of President Donald Trump and his speech in downtown Washington on Wednesday, according to police.
The demonstrations were scheduled to take place on the day Congress was expected to certify the election victory for Joe Biden.
MPD closed off roads around Freedom Plaza, leading to the White House starting from early morning hours.
In a statement on Sunday, Mayor Muriel Bowser asked residents of the area to stay away from downtown DC during the demonstrations planned from January 5 to 7.
“I am asking Washingtonians and those who live in the region to stay out of the downtown area on Tuesday and Wednesday and not to engage with demonstrators who come to our city seeking confrontation, and we will do what we must to ensure all who attend remain peaceful,” said Bowser.
The mayor also requested help from the DC National Guard to support MPD for traffic control and crowd management during the rallies.
On Monday, ahead of the pro-Trump rallies in the District, Enrique Tarrio, leader of the far-right group the Proud Boys, was arrested in DC for allegedly burning a church’s Black Lives Matter sign during a pro-Trump protest in December 2020. He was charged with destruction of property.
Tarrio was released on Tuesday, but the court banned him from entering the District, except for attending his trial.
The incident had taken place at Asbury United Methodist Church, a historically Black church in downtown Washington.
DC National Guard to Support Police During Pro-Trump Demonstration